<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><channel><title>cubicearth</title><description>cubicearth</description><link>http://www.cubicearth.nz/blog</link><item><title>Outreach that Reaches</title><description><![CDATA[Recently we called 'it's a wrap!' on a nearly year-long project that engaged young people with environmental science by helping them tell stories on their own terms using film. I collaborated with the amazing team at Gecko Trust to secure a MBIE Curious Minds grant and deliver the project. We were helped by an amazing cast of people including professional and aspiring film makers, scientists from the University of Auckland, and some passionate environmental outreach organisations. It takes huge<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/bybNrPZ_PlI/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Irene Wallis</dc:creator><link>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2018/04/26/Outreach-that-Reaches</link><guid>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2018/04/26/Outreach-that-Reaches</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2018 11:55:03 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Recently we called 'it's a wrap!' on a nearly year-long project that engaged young people with environmental science by helping them tell stories on their own terms using film. I collaborated with the amazing team at Gecko Trust to secure a MBIE Curious Minds grant and deliver the project. We were helped by an amazing cast of people including professional and aspiring film makers, scientists from the University of Auckland, and some passionate environmental outreach organisations. It takes huge energy and many hands get these projects off the ground, but it's totally worth it. Thanks all!</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bybNrPZ_PlI"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Backward into the Future</title><description><![CDATA[I feel like my culture is obsessed with the future. January is especially thick with planning fever. My news feed and inbox overflow with advice on how to make better goals and resolutions for 2017, and then cut a track toward them.Having caught the fever, I pinned up my annual wall planner yesterday. Intending to carefully plot what lies ahead. But the fever turned into a cold sweat when I considered the number of things without fixed dates and how much may not come to fruition at all. The<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_fc8cfb44b2574e0190b8185b4635b8cb%7Emv2_d_2376_2165_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_470%2Ch_427/40afd3_fc8cfb44b2574e0190b8185b4635b8cb%7Emv2_d_2376_2165_s_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Irene Wallis</dc:creator><link>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2017/01/10/Backward-into-the-Future</link><guid>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2017/01/10/Backward-into-the-Future</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2017 00:07:39 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_fc8cfb44b2574e0190b8185b4635b8cb~mv2_d_2376_2165_s_2.jpg"/><div>I feel like my culture is obsessed with the future. January is especially thick with planning fever. My news feed and inbox overflow with advice on how to make better goals and resolutions for 2017, and then cut a track toward them.</div><div>Having caught the fever, I pinned up my annual wall planner yesterday. Intending to carefully plot what lies ahead. But the fever turned into a cold sweat when I considered the number of things without fixed dates and how much may not come to fruition at all. </div><div>The Ancient Greeks and Mesopotamians thought of the past as being in front of them and the future behind. It’s a view that makes sense because we can see the past but the future is hidden from us.</div><div>Māori and many Pacific cultures share this concept and it’s captured beautifully by a Māori proverb:</div><div>Ka Mua, Ka Muri</div><div>We walk into the future backward </div><div>The sense of movement in this proverb, one step at the time backward into my future, has offered an antidote to the cold sweat caused by planning fever.</div><div>Facing my past and staying connected to it is a source of strength. This is because I can see where I’ve previously recovered from stumbling over bumps, down banks, and into the occasional hole.</div><div>Accepting that the future lies unseen behind me is a little scary, but it’s also exciting: who knows what I’m going to stumble upon this year.</div><div>My adjusted view of where the past lies does not mean I’ve abounded planning—when running any business, or life for that matter, planning is an absolute necessity. It does mean, however, that I’m becoming more open to changes in my path and more surefooted. </div><div>I wish everyone a successful and rewarding 2017, and I hope that you walk backward into a year that’s pleasing when you can see it laid out in front of you. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Scientists Reporting Direct from the Disaster Zone</title><description><![CDATA[Right now fault and earthquake specialists from New Zealand and abroad are rising to the occasion. These scientists have dropped whatever they were doing to focus on learning from a catastrophic event and formulating an estimate of what may happen next.Nearly two weeks ago a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook thousands of New Zealander’s awake, put many people at serious risk, extinguished two lives, and caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure. And it didn’t stop there. As of 7 am<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/-kU7ZGpwb2U/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Irene Wallis</dc:creator><link>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/11/26/Scientists-Reporting-Direct-from-the-Disaster-Zone</link><guid>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/11/26/Scientists-Reporting-Direct-from-the-Disaster-Zone</guid><pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2016 19:04:16 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Right now fault and earthquake specialists from New Zealand and abroad are rising to the occasion. These scientists have dropped whatever they were doing to focus on learning from a catastrophic event and formulating an estimate of what may happen next.</div><div>Nearly two weeks ago a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook thousands of New Zealander’s awake, put many people at serious risk, extinguished two lives, and caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure. And it didn’t stop there. As of 7 am this morning, GeoNet had recorded 5710 aftershocks since the main event, and many of those events were large enough that the word ‘aftershock’ seems a strangely diminutive name.</div><div>Getting a handle on what's going on requires a massive effort because the Kaikoura M7.8 is shaping up to be <a href="http://info.geonet.org.nz/display/home/2016/11/16/Kaikoura+earthquake+update%3A+Magnitude+revised">one of the most complex earthquakes ever recorded on land</a>, so fault and earthquake scientists have launched action.</div><div>These scientists are also working hard to keep you informed.</div><div>As a geologist, science communicator, and veracious consumer of news media, I’ve been tuned into this event over all channels. I’m stoked to have seen many excellent examples of scientists stepping up to connect with the public: to inform, reassure, and share their specialist viewpoint. Some have done it through originations and others with their own unique voice.</div><div>Here's a few outstanding examples of scientists reporting direct from the disaster zone during the last two weeks.</div><div>John Townend from the Victoria University Wellington sat-in with the Radio NZ National Check-point team on the morning of the earthquake. His ability to bring context and perspective was immensely valuable, but it was his crowded bus analogy that clinched it for me. By using this analogy, John was able to make a complicated concept real for the non-specialist.</div><iframe src="http://static.usrfiles.com/html/101de1_f7c22c91acab1a584e240292cf5ec3cd.html"/><div>Kelvin Berryman from GNS Science has been down on the coast north of Kaikoura. He bought us an up-close, no holds barred experience with the Paptea Fault Rupture. His straightforward explanations in this clip are backed by some great footage and high production values. But what I love most about the clip is the way Kelvin's descriptions are punctuated with the kinds of dynamic gesture many geologists are famous for—with arms wide and body tilted there’s no mistaking what way the fault moved.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EDnjsVH2jxU"/><div>Julie Rowland from the University of Auckland has been bringing us a raw accounts of the damage further inland. Her unique and personal video diaries show the human side of the scientists out there working for us.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-kU7ZGpwb2U"/><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D5lov0BP7v4"/><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s7pTgjYwZN8"/><div>Finally, I want to give a huge shout-out to the team at GeoNet who have been working around the clock to bring you the most up to date and accurate information about what’s going on. Check out their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/geonetnz/">Facebook page</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/geonet?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">twitter feed</a>, and <a href="https://www.geonet.org.nz/">website</a> where they keep us updated on the latest shakes and provide excellent explanations of what’s going on.</div><div>I especially want to praise GeoNet’s #emergencycute hashtag. It’s a ray of sunshine within all the shaking that reminds us of the humanity behind the data.</div><div>Keep up the good work folks. </div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_639801ae92144ca2865ab6a85bca1d30~mv2.png"/><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_0ce44d5f86be4924bd68831b32cf9f40~mv2.png"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>I'm an Impostor. Are you?</title><description><![CDATA[On Thursday last week I came out as an impostor during a lunchtime workshop I ran for WING."There’s a well-guarded secret plaguing many professionals and academics. It explains why bright people see themselves as imposters, frauds, or not worthy of their place in a room of high achievers, and all despite consistent and impressive evidence to the contrary." Impostorism (otherwise known as impostor phenomenon or impostor syndrome) is something all genders face, and it has a significant impact on<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_18fd1044eb374ccfb282156a53294e32%7Emv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Irene Wallis</dc:creator><link>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/11/28/Im-an-Impostor-Are-you</link><guid>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/11/28/Im-an-Impostor-Are-you</guid><pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2016 03:06:56 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_18fd1044eb374ccfb282156a53294e32~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><div>On Thursday last week I came out as an impostor during a lunchtime workshop I ran for WING.</div><div>&quot;There’s a well-guarded secret plaguing many professionals and academics. It explains why bright people see themselves as imposters, frauds, or not worthy of their place in a room of high achievers, and all despite consistent and impressive evidence to the contrary.&quot; </div><div>Impostorism (otherwise known as impostor phenomenon or impostor syndrome) is something all genders face, and it has a significant impact on the career of some women. This made it an excellent subject for the inaugural WING University event that was held during the New Zealand Geothermal Workshop last week.</div><div>WING (Women in Geothermal) is an international organisation whose mission is to promote the education, professional development, and advancement of women in the geothermal community. </div><div>As a woman and a geothermalist, this mission hits close to home, so I was stoked to have had the opportunity to kick off the WING University program.</div><div>The workshop arose out of my own struggle with impostorism. </div><div>I’ve felt like an impostor for most of my adult life. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking to myself “I was never meant to be here and I don’t belong, and any moment now the people around me are going to work this out”. It's a feeling full of anxiety, fear and isolation. And until recently, I thought I was the only one in the room that felt this way.</div><div>The turning point happened earlier this year when I stumbled on a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZg9rax-ky4">videoed lecture</a> about impostor syndrome.</div><div>Eureka! </div><div>I'm not alone. I have a word to describe how I feel and I can do something about it. </div><div>Since then I've been scanning the horizon for more information. Two books I found also provided groundbreaking ah-ha moments. </div><div>Sheryl Sandberg's book 'Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead', which I'd recommend for all women (in and out of the workplace) and those who aspire to support them. </div><div>Valrie Young's book 'The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and how to Thrive in Spite of It' is a great reference anyone who strongly identifies as an impostor.</div><div>Impostorism has been the topic of lively debate in my house for weeks now. Many people in my network shared with me their experiences and insight on this issue. I deeply value these discussions, for myself and the contribution they made to the workshop. </div><div>A whole range of people came forward after the workshop to share their experiences of impostorism, and it made me realise how widespread this is in our community. </div><div>It also made me want to turn my slides into a webpage that people can tap into them at any time. However, there's so much more that needs to be woven into this workshop that the impostor in me wasn't ready to send it out to the world in anything that resembled a permanent form.</div><div>Monday is a great day for resolutions, especially ones that involve taking your own advice. </div><div>I'm making progress toward being less of an impostor. Will you? </div><iframe src="http://static.usrfiles.com/html/101de1_0da8de4a746518fa3f91ccfa00a9ed91.html"/><div>You can also view the presentation full screen <a href="https://spark.adobe.com/page/f1y2JDMfREhj4/">here</a>.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Power of Time Off</title><description><![CDATA[I’m home. My feet are firmly planted on the ground after two months and 5000 miles in the American West. But before launching into life again on Monday, I’ve been reflecting on the power of time off. Stefan Sagmeister, a New York-based designer, gave a TED Talk about this. He cut five years off retirement and interspersed them into the working years, hence creating a yearlong sabbatical every seven years.Stefan found that time off was impactful in four ways. First, it was enjoyable. Something<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_04d29ef001634f16afef4ffe0f12edf4%7Emv2_d_6000_1360_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_142/40afd3_04d29ef001634f16afef4ffe0f12edf4%7Emv2_d_6000_1360_s_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Irene Wallis</dc:creator><link>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/11/06/The-Power-of-Time-Off</link><guid>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/11/06/The-Power-of-Time-Off</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2016 05:42:23 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_04d29ef001634f16afef4ffe0f12edf4~mv2_d_6000_1360_s_2.jpg"/><div>I’m home. </div><div>My feet are firmly planted on the ground after two months and 5000 miles in the American West. But before launching into life again on Monday, I’ve been reflecting on the power of time off. </div><div>Stefan Sagmeister, a New York-based designer, gave a <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/stefan_sagmeister_the_power_of_time_off?language=en">TED Talk</a> about this. He cut five years off retirement and interspersed them into the working years, hence creating a yearlong sabbatical every seven years.</div><div>Stefan found that time off was impactful in four ways.</div><div> First, it was enjoyable. Something I’d argue is an end unto itself.</div><div> Second, Stefan found that his job became a calling again. </div><div> A job is done for money. So by Thursday we're already looking forward to the weekend and we probably need a hobby to balance life out. A career is where advancement and promotion are the motivators. Overall we’re more engaged, but there are times when we wonder if all the hard work’s really worth it. A calling is intrinsically fulfilling. Something we’d likely still do it if we weren’t financially compensated for it.</div><div>So having your calling become a job is tragic and finding a way to reverse this process is priceless.</div><div> Third, Stefan found that basically everything done in his design business during the following seven years came out of thinking that started during the sabbatical. </div><div> Finally, over the long term Stefan found that taking a year off was financially successful. It improved the quality of work he produced and therefore allowed him to charge more. </div><div> Now, I wasn’t on total sabbatical. I was available for clients, visited a number of industry friends and colleagues, and attend the Geothermal Regional Congress in Sacramento. But in-between the work I spent time exploring the landscape of the American West. A pseudo-sabbatical of sorts.</div><div> The impact?</div><div> First, I enjoyed it.</div><div> Second, the time off spent driving, camping and hiking in the American West (California, Utah and Colorado) reminded me why I became a geologist in the first place, of how it had become my calling. The trip was like geology pilgrimage because, instead of being clothed by vegetation, the Earth there is laid bare for the admiring eye. The immodest display of curves, folds and faults reconnected me with the power of landscape. </div><div> Third, I already feel that the time off will fuel me in the coming weeks and months. I’m looking forward to dipping into the deep well of content, conversations and contemplations gathered while I drove from one campsite to the next. </div><div> Finally, financial success? I guess that’ll reveal itself in time. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The S Word for Small Business</title><description><![CDATA[People love the idea of sustainability. But when we’re squeezed by the pressures of running a small business, it’s easy to let our focus on sustainability drift. So I’ve challenged myself to tackle it during my first few months in business, and will share my experiences along the way.Conquer the Paper MountainA paperless office initially seemed like a straight forward idea. I liked it because paper was one of the few disposable consumables used in my kind of business. But execution came with<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_411bae8db98c4e408cb4b98799532c07%7Emv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_295/40afd3_411bae8db98c4e408cb4b98799532c07%7Emv2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Irene Wallis</dc:creator><link>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/08/09/The-S-Word-for-Small-Business</link><guid>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/08/09/The-S-Word-for-Small-Business</guid><pubDate>Tue, 09 Aug 2016 02:04:48 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>People love the idea of sustainability. But when we’re squeezed by the pressures of running a small business, it’s easy to let our focus on sustainability drift. So I’ve challenged myself to tackle it during my first few months in business, and will share my experiences along the way.</div><div>Conquer the Paper Mountain</div><div>A paperless office initially seemed like a straight forward idea. I liked it because paper was one of the few disposable consumables used in my kind of business. But execution came with challenges.</div><div>I chose not to have a printer.</div><div>This initially felt bold, daring even. How would I run a small business without a printer?</div><div>In truth, I’ve had a couple of aaagh moments—like when the bank wouldn’t accept forms filled out digitally. But in three months I’ve had to make two trips get something printed. On a straight cost-benefit basis, this comes out pretty good against the cost of printer, paper, ink cartridges and chucking stuff into landfill.</div><div>I’ve been using the Adobe Reader fill and sign and comment tools for pdf documents and track changes for word. They seem ok, but I’m all ears if anyone has a favourite mark-up tool they’d like to share.</div><div>But even without a printer, paper still landed on my desk.</div><div>People posted it to me, gave it to me, and printed stuff for me ‘just in case’.</div><div>Don’t get me wrong, I'm stoked this happens if the stuff coming on paper is mission critical. When it’s not, it feels like a waste. So I’ve come up with a solution for paper that doesn’t get the seven-year storage treatment (thanks IRD).</div><div>The first step was to capture what’s on the paper.</div><div>There’s a few apps around that turn your phone into a scanner. I use ScanBot because it’s simple, free and links to my dropbox, but I’d love to hear about other people’s favorites. </div><div>Then deal with the paper.</div><div>After scanning, any paper with white-space gets a second life as note paper. I still find easier to work some things out with a pencil in hand, and I’m stoked to reuse paper for this instead of buy it.</div><div>Recycling’s great. But creating ways to reuse or repurpose, without trucking stuff around or going through another manufacturing process, is better.</div><div>Paper gets repurposed one last time when it’s turned into compost by hundreds of unpaid labourers. It’s extremely satisfying feeding unwanted mail to worms.</div><div>And the reward?</div><div>Now I save money, add less to landfill, only have one file system (digital) to look for stuff in, and my garden is flourishing. I also have a feeling of lightness because my desk’s never straining under a mountain of paper: clear desk, clear mind.</div><div>Free yourself from the tyranny—go paperless!</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_411bae8db98c4e408cb4b98799532c07~mv2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>What secrets lie beneath Rotorua city?</title><description><![CDATA[For the last six years I’ve been living in Rotorua, New Zealand—a city built right on top of a geothermal system.People in Rotorua are pretty casual about it.I guess it doesn’t matter how unusual something is, if you see it every day it starts to seem pretty normal. It doesn’t help that you only get a hint of how epic a geothermal system is when you’re soaking weary muscles in a hot pool or watching geysers play.When I think about what a geothermal system is, what it really is, I feel totally in<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_9457b62a6ad54b94a1fe041b78c726d8%7Emv2_d_2204_4153_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_1180/40afd3_9457b62a6ad54b94a1fe041b78c726d8%7Emv2_d_2204_4153_s_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Irene Wallis</dc:creator><link>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/06/21/What-secrets-lie-beneath-Rotorua-city</link><guid>http://www.cubicearth.nz/single-post/2016/06/21/What-secrets-lie-beneath-Rotorua-city</guid><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2016 03:01:02 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>For the last six years I’ve been living in Rotorua, New Zealand—a city built right on top of a geothermal system.</div><div>People in Rotorua are pretty casual about it.</div><div>I guess it doesn’t matter how unusual something is, if you see it every day it starts to seem pretty normal. It doesn’t help that you only get a hint of how epic a geothermal system is when you’re soaking weary muscles in a hot pool or watching geysers play.</div><div>When I think about what a geothermal system is, what it really is, I feel totally in awe. The sheer power and scale of cubic kilometres of water heated by magma that, at some point in the past, got stuck in the crust instead of making a volcano.</div><div>Check out this infographic I made to find out what secrets lie beneath Rotorua city.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/40afd3_9457b62a6ad54b94a1fe041b78c726d8~mv2_d_2204_4153_s_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>